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¹ Canst thou drawe out Leuiathan with an hooke, or binde his tongue with a corde?² Canst thou put a hooke in the nose of him, or bore his iawe through with a naule?³ Wyl he make many faire wordes with thee [thinkest thou] or flatter thee?⁴ Wyll he make a couenaunt with thee? or wilt thou take him for a seruaunt for euer?⁵ Wylt thou take thy pastime with him as with a birde, wilt thou binde him for thy maydens?⁶ That thy companions may make a refection of him: or shall he be parted among the marchauntes?⁷ Canst thou fil the basket with his skin? or the fishe panier with his head?⁸ Laye thyne hande vpon him, remember the battaile, and do no more so.⁹ Beholde his hope is in vaine: for shall not one perishe euen at the sight of him?¹⁰ No man is so fierce that dare stirre him vp: Who is able to stande before me?

¹¹ Or who hath geuen me any thyng aforehande, that I may rewarde him againe? All thinges vnder heauen are myne.¹² I wyll not keepe secrete his great strength, his power, nor his comely proportion.¹³ Who can discouer the face of his garment? or who shall come to him with a double brydle?¹⁴ Who shall open the doores of his face? for he hath horrible teeth round about.¹⁵ His scales are as it were strong shieldes, so fastened together as if they were sealed:¹⁶ One is so ioyned to another, that no ayre can come in:¹⁷ Yea, one hangeth so vpon another, & sticketh so together, that they can not be sundred.¹⁸ His neesinges make a glistering like fyre, and his eyes lyke the morning shine.¹⁹ Out of his mouth go torches, and sparkes of fire leape out.²⁰ And out of his nostrels there goeth a smoke, lyke as out of an hotte seething pot, or caldron.²¹ His breath maketh the coles burne, and the flambe goeth out of his mouth.²² In his necke ther remaineth strength, and nothing is to labourous for him.²³ The members of his body are ioyned [so strait one to another,] and cleaue so fast together, that he cannot be moued.²⁴ His heart is as hard as a stone, and as fast as the stythie that the smyth smiteth vpon.²⁵ When he goeth the mightie are afraide, and feare troubleth them.²⁶ If any man drawe out a sword at him, it shall not hurt him: there may neither speare, laueling, nor brestplate abide him.²⁷ He setteth asmuch by iron as by a strawe, and asmuch by brasse as by a rotten sticke.²⁸ He starteth not away from him that bendeth the bowe: & as for sling stones he careth asmuch for stouble as for the.²⁹ He counteth the dartes no better then a strawe, he laugheth him to scorne that shaketh the speare.³⁰ Sharpe stones are vnder him lyke potsheardes, and he lyeth vpon sharpe thinges as vpon the soft myre.³¹ He maketh the deepe to boyle lyke a pot, and stirreth the sea together lyke an oyntment.³² He maketh the path to be seene after him, and he maketh the deepe to seeme all hoarie.³³ Upon earth there is no power lyke vnto his: for he is so made that he feareth not.³⁴ He beholdeth all the hye thinges, he is a king ouer all the children of pride.